21 June 2024 , 13:04
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German police have arrested two men over an attempt to blackmail the family of stricken Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher.
The accused had attempted to "make millions" by targeting the Schumacher family, reports German newspaper Bild. Seven-time world champion Michael receives round-the-clock care as he continues to recover from a life-changing skiing accident in December 2013.
Bild reports two men from Wuppertal, a city in western Germany, were arrested and appeared in court on Thursday morning. Exact details on the alleged blackmail attempt have not yet been made public.
A spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office confirmed that arrests had been made. They said: "We are investigating a case of blackmail to the detriment of a celebrity and have executed arrest warrants in this case. We cannot provide any further information at this time."
Schumacher has not appeared in public since that accident in the French Alps more than a decade ago. He spent months in hospital before his family were allowed to take him home and provide care for him there.
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Details of his condition have been a closely guarded secret ever since and he has been fiercely protected by his wife Corinna. But the public appetite for news about the F1 legend has sadly led to several attempts to take advantage of the family.
One blackmailer was jailed in 2017 after they threatened to kill Schumacher's children if the family refused to pay a 900,000€ ransom. He was easily caught by police because he had included his own bank details when demanding the cash.
Michael Schumacher suffered life-changing injuries while skiing in the French Alps in December 2013 (AFP via Getty Images)Earlier this year, the Schumacher family were awarded £170,239 in compensation by a German court after successfully suing a magazine over a fake 'interview' they published, which was presented on the front page as being his first since his accident.
AI-generated quotes claimed Schumacher could stand "by myself and even slowly walk a few steps", and that his family were "very sad" about his ordeal. The magazine did state in the copy that the quotes were not real, and the furious Schumacher family quickly sought legal advice.
Publisher Funke Mediengruppe apologised to the family and editor-in-chief Ann Hoffman was sacked. Despite that action, the Munich labour court ruled in the Schumachers' favour and ordered the magazine group to pay damages.